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There's plenty of summer left, and plenty of opportunities to entertain. That means preparing spectacular feasts for your family and guests.

If you're looking to broaden your culinary toolkit, maybe it's time to graduate from a grill to a smoker. The National Barbecue Association (nbbqa.org) offers these tips if you're looking into doing some home cooking with a new smoker.

Howard Singer, pitmaster of Smokin' Howie's BBQ Team, says the price for smokers can range from under $100 to thousands of dollars.

Singer says think about which features are most important to you and establish a budget. If you are truly a beginner, you can buy a simple, vertical smoker for under $50.

An experienced home barbecuer can get a more advanced, but still inexpensive, unit that produces great results for around $300. If you are looking for something more sophisticated with a heavy reliance on automation, then be prepared to spend $600 or more.

Singer says paying more does not guarantee the quality of your food. Your total process is more influential than the price of your smoker.

What is the difference between a horizontal/off-set and vertical smoker?

Singer says vertical smokers are smaller, more portable and can operate by wood, electric or gas. They can range in price from under $50 to around $400 and are simple to use, with fuel on the bottom and meat on racks above.

On the other hand, horizontal/off-set smokers have the firebox on the side and the meat goes into a separate chamber next to the firebox. Singer says horizontal smokers are much heavier and not as portable, however.

Ultimately, Singer says if you have very limited outdoor space to place your equipment, a vertical smoker is the way to go.

Peer-to-peer vacation rental listings are on the rise, but some renters find more favor with rental management companies, according to a recent industry study.

While there are benefits to both peer-to-peer and managed rentals, tales of rentals-gone-bad seem to spike when the home is booked directly with the host homeowner—renters cited in the study said they felt safer staying in a managed rental than staying in a peer-to-peer listing.

Unlike direct-from-homeowner rentals, vacation rental managers oversee the process from start to finish, and have established standards for quality, service and security for their properties. Peer-to-peer rentals leave the standards up to each individual homeowner.

“The reality is most homeowners don't have the time to adequately meet guest expectations when it comes to safety, cleanliness and assistance, and as a result they find the tasks daunting,” says Gail Mandel, CEO of Wyndham Vacation Rentals, which conducted the study.

“Guests should know they do not have to go it alone,” Mandel adds. “But if they do, they should keep in mind important tips, like renting from a reputable source, watching for signs of fraud and only using secure payment methods.”

Barbecuing for breakfast is taking hold in backyards—and in fact, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA), the trend is only going to grow in popularity.

Why the urge to BBQ breakfast? The HPBA lists a few reasons:

Anything—anything—can be barbecued.

From bagels or oatmeal to cereal or eggs, any breakfast item can be prepared on the grill. (Cereal? It’s true! Warm up dry cereal with butter on a grill-safe griddle, and add it to cold milk or yogurt.)

Barbecuing adds a smoky bite.

Barbecuing imparts smoky flavor on beloved breakfast classics. Charcoal, gas and wood pellet barbecues will add a fresh-off-the-grill taste to bacon and sausage, and apple- or cherry-flavored chips can take pancakes to the next level.

Brunch just got better.

Cook brunch items low and slow on the grill early in the morning—they’ll be ready by mid-day, and you’ll be able to enjoy them that much sooner!

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the one that is most often overlooked in this hectic world,” says Jack Goldman, president and CEO of the HPBA. “Weekends are the perfect time to slow things down, fire up the grill, and enjoy some much needed family time around an open flame. Those who try it will immediately discover that barbecuing your breakfast can be just as enjoyable—and delicious—as your evening meals.”

Summer’s here, and with it comes the desire to embrace the season through the décor in our homes.

“This time of year offers an opportunity to create your perfect summer oasis by bringing sunny shades from the outdoors into your home,” says Nathan Fischer, design expert with Ace Hardware. “Use the time and creativity summer offers to experiment with fun, colorful hues and tackle new projects to give your home a much-needed refresh.”

(Family Features)—A lot of household items have a shelf life—even ones you wouldn’t expect. Do you need to replace any of these in your home?

Mattress – Studies show mattresses more than eight years old can exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms, as well as contribute to body aches and pains. Replace your mattress every eight years to ensure you’re getting a healthy night’s sleep.

Microwave – Microwaves last 10 to 12 years on average, but this lifespan varies based on use. Replace your microwave if the heating time starts to take longer than usual.

Pillows – Your pillow collects debris—just like your mattress—that can affect your sleep. Aim to replace pillows every two years.

Refrigerator – Is your fridge walking instead of running? If it is more than 15 years old, or no longer cools to below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it may be time to replace it.

Smoke Detector – Hear a chirping sound from your smoke detector? That may be a sign that it’s time to replace the unit (not just the batteries).

Toaster – Toasters become temperamental as they age. Six to 8 years is the recommended maximum amount of time you should wait before replacing your toaster.

Vacuum – Is your vacuum losing suction power? Replacing the belt or filter will only extend its lifespan for so long. If your vacuum is older than eight years, it is time to replace it.

Washer/Dryer – Is it time to close the last spin cycle? Washers and dryers both have a lifespan of about 10 years old—any older and it may be time to buy new machines.

When it comes to putting money aside for a rainy day, discipline is the first word that springs to the lips of most financial advisors—and it does, indeed, take discipline.

Many people, however, need more specific guidance on what kind of discipline is needed to bulk up their savings. Financial editor Eric McWhinnie told the Wall Street Cheat Sheet there are three basic ways to make a disciplined approach work best:

1. Automatically Pay Yourself First – When too many people are lined up waiting for a piece of your paycheck, you’ll save money if you put yourself at the head of the line. Don’t plan to spend what’s left over at the end of the month. Instead, set up an automatic deposit plan to pull money (10 percent is recommended) from every paycheck and deposit it directly into savings. Adjust your spending to make the balance last until your next paycheck.

2. Track Your Spending – For at least one month, keep notes on every dollar you spend. It’s the best way to get a clear understanding about where your money is going day by day and how and where you can cut back. (Subscriptions? Lattes? Services or insurance deductibles?) Do quarterly check-ups to review how your savings account is growing and how you are doing at reducing your discretionary spending.

3. Take Advantage of 401(k) Plans – When available, 401(k)s are the most efficient way to save money because, for many participants, the employer is contributing matching funds. In effect, it is free money, so take maximum advantage of the benefit by contributing as much as possible.

Following these three rules has proven to grow savings—and it can work for you, too.

Did you know lightning can be as damaging to the home—if not more—as other weather events?

There are many misconceptions about lightning and its effects—the ol’ rubber trick, for instance, is a myth. According to the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), rubber tires or rubber-soled shoes will not protect a person from lightning. Metal is not a magnet for lightning, either. Lightning, too, can strike the same place twice—take the Empire State Building or the Sears Tower, both of which have been struck repeatedly.

A lightning protection system is one the most effective ways to prevent damage to your property, according to the LPI. A whole-house arrester or surge protector, though beneficial, should be just one component of that system.

Green and smart homeowners, especially, should install a system to protect the other systems in the home—lightning strikes often damage multiple systems at once.

Leave the installation of the lightning protection system to the professionals, the LPI advises. Look for an LPI-certified specialist, who adheres to strict safety standards when it comes to the design and installation of the system.

That’s the resounding sentiment from a sample of 55-plus homeowners in a recent survey by Freddie Mac, who said they’re not only confident about retirement, but also confident homeownership “makes financial sense at almost every stage of adult life.”

Close to 40 percent of the 55-plus homeowners surveyed plan to move at least one more time in their life, while the majority of those (70 percent) plan to purchase their next home. This migration will have significant implications for the housing market overall.

“The decisions the nation's baby boomers and other older homeowners make will have an enormous impact on the demand for housing and new mortgage credit for the foreseeable future,” said Dave Lowman, executive vice president of Single-Family Business for Freddie Mac, in a statement. “Whether they buy new homes or decide to refinance and renovate their current ones, the size of this generation and the fact that they hold close to two-thirds, approximately $8 trillion, of the nation's home equity makes it very important that we watch what they do.”

Would-be homebuyers weary of the recession should consider the outcome for the majority of 55-plus homeowners.

“The overwhelming message of the Freddie Mac 55+ Survey is that homeownership works,” said Lowman. “The American Dream delivered greater financial stability and satisfaction to the homeowners who lived through every recession since the 1970s, including the housing crisis of 2008.”

One of the highest-impact issues in the residential construction industry has hit home. Pyrrhotite, an iron sulfide mineral prone to oxidation, has extensively damaged homes in New England—and others may be next.

The effects of pyrrhotite first came to light in Canada in the 1970s, when the mineral’s oxidation process caused foundations to crumble.

New issues have now surfaced, with 1,700 residential buildings potentially at risk. Connecticut alone has issued nearly 30 subpoenas to insurance companies as part of its investigation.

Many of the homes that show pyrrhotite damage were built in the 1980s and 1990s. If you suspect your foundation may be crumbling because of pyrrhotite, contact your insurance company to initiate an inspection.

Remember, cracks may take 10 or more years after the foundation is poured to develop. Reference cracks in the walls and floor individually to secure an adequate recommendation for repair.

(Family Features)—Most of us have pledged to unplug while on a vacation—a “digital detox”—only to back-pedal on that promise at the onset. Staying connected, however, can expose travelers to more than a less-than-relaxing excursion.

Security risks are high for vacationers, according to the experts at Intel Security. They are especially vulnerable because they are less inclined to be vigilant while on vacation.

Intel Security’s experts recommend vacationers remain on alert for thieves targeting smartphones, as well as to secure devices that may otherwise give cyber criminals access to personal data.

To lessen the impact should your phone be stolen, back it up before you travel, and set up a password or PIN code for added protection, the Intel Security experts suggest.

Avoid posting information about your vacation on social media before and during the trip. This is type of information can give thieves and cyber criminals the green light to burglarize your home and/or attack your devices.

While on vacation, avoid using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Connecting to an unprotected network could inadvertently give cyber criminals access to your data, including private work-related files you may be viewing while traveling.

Do not unplug, however, when it comes to your finances, Intel Security experts advise. Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. If you believe you have been victimized by a cyber criminal, take action immediately to recover any losses.